Frictionless seal between relatively moving - hollow chamber and surface

摘要

Method is used for sealing hollow chambers to prevent passage of liquid or gas. Electrodes charged with an electric potential are positioned along the inner and outer boundaries of the chamber edge bordering the surface. The polarity of the potential is such that the system works as an electrokinetic pump and prevents escape of electrokinetically active fluid from the sealing gap. At least one wall of the sealing plate is made of an electrokinetically active (e.g. ferroelectric) material. Specif. the wall(s) have a barium titanate vapour-deposited coating. Such a seal can be made between a hollow chamber and a flat, spherical or cylindrical surface.